Relationship struggles

Reality star says having gay relationship unfold on screen was “difficult and awkward”

Gay couple on show

Sean Lineker is a cast member and most recent winner of the hit reality TV show Shipwrecked, which is sort of like a British version of Survivor. He’s also a member in the series’ first on-screen gay relationship, an experience he calls “difficult and awkward.”

“I did find it difficult and awkward having a relationship with a man on TV,” Lineker tells Cocktails and Cocktalk. “I’ve been openly gay for a while, but doing it in the public eye is still difficult, as it’s not something all my friends and especially family have seen.”

“That being said, I am glad that the relationship was a highlight of the show and featured well.”

Lineker had a romance with his cast mate Chris Jammer, a 6’7 model and aspiring music festival producer.

Asked whether he and Jammer are still an item, Lineker says, simply, “No comment” (we take that as a no), before adding that he’s proud of how the relationship was portrayed and hopes it helped to open people’s hearts and minds.

“When I was growing up as a teenager, I didn’t once see two gay men have a relationship on a reality show,” he says.

Big BrotherLove Island and all these other shows generally focus on straight relationships which is a shame. So if anyone sees my relationship on the show and it helps them come out in their own personal life, then my job is done.”

Now that the show is over, Lineker says he’s started receiving DMs from fans on social media.

“I’ve surprisingly had really positive feedback so far,” he says. “I think due to my quite large social media following people had a preconceived perception of what I’d be like as a person.”

He continues, “I’ve had a lot of messages saying they’re really shocked at how nice I am which is always nice to hear.”

Scroll down for more pics from Lineker’s Instagram page…

View this post on Instagram

Flop hair #fitnessfirst #gym

A post shared by Sean Lineker | Shipwrecked ? (@seanlineker) on

View this post on Instagram

Incredible. #aspensummerholiday

A post shared by Sean Lineker | Shipwrecked ? (@seanlineker) on

View this post on Instagram

….????…. #tbt

A post shared by Sean Lineker | Shipwrecked ? (@seanlineker) on

View this post on Instagram

Shameless ?????

A post shared by Sean Lineker | Shipwrecked ? (@seanlineker) on